I’m linking up with the Wednesday Word crew today and this week’s word is “Physical”. Naturally what comes to mind immediately is:
Looking back over my life so far, I can see how my idea of physical fitness has really evolved. Back in late 80’s when I was in high school (yup I know I am old!), I hated sports and really all physical fitness. I even used to beg my dad (a physician) to write me notes so that I could get out of gym class. He did and I never did any sports and don’t think I ever even sweat.
In my college years, I became swept up in step aerobics. Exercise at that time was all about staying as thin as possible. I don’t think I ever really enjoyed it much but still I hit those classes almost everyday for a few years. Women did not really venture into the weight room back then at all. Weights were for those muscle guys right? We all thought that weights would just make you gain, well weight. At that time, it was all about being thin and exercise was a means to end. Confession: I may have had a very similar outfit LOL.
In my late 20’s and early 30’s, after having my kids, I just wanted to get the baby weight off. I went back to the gym and started taking group exercise classes. That’s when exercise started to become a socializing event for me as well as I would meet up with friends at classes. At that time, fitness classes were incorporating weights (now called strength training) and I began to appreciate how this type of exercise helped me shed weight faster and look better.
It was not until about 15 years ago, after a ski accident where I tore my ACL/MCL , did I really learn how strength training could not only change my body but my whole mind set. I became slightly obsessed with working out and really seeing lots of results in a short amount of time.
It was shortly thereafter that I began running. At first, it was so much harder than I thought it would be. Soon, I was sucked in and wanted to see what my body was capable of. I actually looked forward to my runs for the first time ever. I wanted more and loved the rush I got from exercising. I did my first triathlon in 2006 (way before it was cool).
As I got more into running and physical fitness, I couldn’t get enough! I loved the rush I got from teaching spin and group exercise classes for a few years.
As I got more into running, it somehow became a huge part of my life and identity. Physical fitness became a way for me to push myself, to socialize and to improve both my mental and physical well being.
If someone had told me 20 years ago that that the girl who hated PE class would start my own running group, coach Girls on The Run and have a fitness blog I would have laughed in their face.
My how things change!
How has physical fitness changed for you?
Linking up today with:
Wednesday Word: Deb Runs
I was also a PE hater as a kid! Luckily on my school’s “sports” days we had a heap of different options and I always chose the non traditional route. Beach walking was a fave (the benefit of living in Australia and right by the beach!) closely followed yoga and aerobics!
The older I got, the more I realise PE sucked but I actually loved being active – whether it was hiking or yoga or strength training. It’s actually crazy to think that I can now lift weights as I actually have erb’s palsy (a rotational shoulder disability) due to a birth injury which for years meant I couldn’t actually use my right arm – but now I can do just about anything with it, only a little modified!
Well your PE class sounds a lot more interesting than mine was!!
I was the last person to finish the mile in grade school. I hated running. I rode and played, but I hated formal exercise! But give me a game to play, I was there. Now, I”m kind of the other way around, lol
I know it’s funny how things change isn’t it?!
That was great! Physical fitness has changed so much for me too! I was a team sport athlete in school–soccer and basketball–and actually QUIT track (after I won a gold medal at the first meet) because I thought running was boring! LOL
I know I hated running too with such a passion. So funny how that changes!
Oh Deborah! I used to do anything to get out of gym class too! UGH!
I was a dance in high school and college, but that’s about it. I would have laughed about becoming a runner too.
My how times change. Really enjoyed this post!
I can totally see you as a dancer! Yes funny how much we change our minds isn’t it?!
I’m really much the same… I hated sports my entire life…. I’d have periods in my 20’s and early 30’s when I would work out for 2 months and then drop it… Running is what finally made fitness stick for me, and make me interested in other exercise as well. Now, I have a hard time taking one rest day a week… I have to force myself to do it.
Isn’t it ironic how that happens?!
I used to like to hate gym class too! It’s funny because now I love being active!
I know me too!!
That is such an awesome journey! I started out playing sports all the time, a new one for each season. But as time went on and I graduated school I stuck to running and weight training to fill the void of daily exercise .
I so wish I had done something at a younger age but making up for it now!
My post-college roommate reminds me of my hard partying ways all the time! She still can’t believe I’ve become a runner. Isn’t it funny how the image we have of people from the past never changes?
It sure is!!
I didn’t mind gym class, until the timed mile. I think that’s when I started hated running. They teach you how to play sports, but they don’t teach you how to run, and then grade you on it! Ugh! We need an overhaul of running in gym class.
Oh, ’80s. I think the ’80s killed a lot of fashion, but it was colorful!
Oh I hated that so much too!
Cool look back at your journey! I hated gym in school and asked my parents to write notes too. It never worked but that’s how much I hated it. And yep, I did the step aerobics in college too 🙂
Kind of miss the step aerobics!
I forged notes to get out of swimming.
I love seeing how your story evolved. I too hated exercise when I was younger and used asthma as an excuse to sit out on running. Very funny looking back at it now.
It is! So many of us felt that way too
Growing up I had horrible growing pains in my legs and WAS excused from PE all my life. My life didn’t get “physical” until later on. And like you, I don’t think I even broke a sweat in those early aerobic classes. Maybe it was all about the fashion! LOL.
Ha ha maybe!!
Oh man, we sound really similar — except I graduated HS in 1980 so no, you are NOT old!
I used to try to get out of gym, too. I wish there was some way to make it better for the girls who are not athletically gifted — by my 20s I had discovered the joys of working out, and now it’s just so ingrained in me I’m really not happy when I can’t!
I almost went with that title but then I figured somebody was going to use it!
Lol! That’s one of the reasons why I coach GOTR bc I want to help the younger girls enjoy it more
I love this and learning more about your fitness journey. For me, it has definitely become a way for me to socialize and interact with others now that I have kids and running has absolutely become part of my identity!!! SO much different than the way I approached fitness in high school and even college!
I know so funny how that happens!
What a great look back! I hated running when I was in high school, but it might not have been so bad if I had compression shorts or body glide .. instead we had cotton gym shorts!
Oh yes! Clothes have come a long way too
My entire fitness life changed after my spine fracture. Working out just does not feel the same and I need to stretch and do yoga wayyy more than I can do the hard pounding cardio. Just gotta roll with the punches.
You sure do sometimes!
Love this post!! I was always into sports, but I used to despise running! Now I can’t imagine life without it!
Me either! Funny how things change
It is funny how things change! I would never in a million years believed I’d be a runner!
I’m so very glad you and I both have found our passion!
Me too!! ????
Haha I love the retro workouts. For me I have gone from only doing cardio to mainly weight training and have seen a huge difference in my bidy
Such a fun post! I hated PE in elementary school. It took until I was in grade 10 to enjoy it! But by then I got to pick which sport I wanted to go that semester so it really helped!
I wish I had done sports at s younger age
We’re having our 20 year reunion next year! I too was the kid who hated gym class. Now I feel weird not exercising.
I know!!
We need to start a group of former gym class haters turned fitness fanatics.
Lol yes!
Ok, so I was opposite, I loved gym class and sports. I really really loved the annual presidential physical fitness tests we had at school! But I had friends that didnt. When the timing is right, its right and that matters. There is no such thing as a bad time to find fitness, Im so glad you did. Love your story!
Ah thanks! Was fun to think about
My workout journey started with the Cindy Crawford VHS workout!! So much fun 🙂
Oh yea I did that one too!!
This is such a fun post – and yes, Deborah I would have never thought in high school that one day I would me a runner. I admired everybody else who was though. Funny how it all turns out sometimes, right?
It is pretty funny indeed!
I was a sprinter in high school but back then I never liked running long Distance and never ran while I was in college. Back then if someone said that I’d run a marathon I would have just laughed and said why would I pay to be miserable? But after ten full marathons complete I am going strong and going to continue as long as my body allows.
Well that’s just amazing!
Love this ! We must be the exact same age because that is pretty much my story too ! Where did you dig up those photos? They are great !
Ha ha I wont’ tell anyone how old we are if you don’t!
What an awesome journey! The gym has never been my happy place, but I’ve learned to love other ways to exercise 🙂
Any way is good in my book!
I wonder how many of us run bloggers were the kids who hated PE? – I failed the mile run!
Oh I never even tried to run it!! LOL Funny how things change huh?
You think you’re old – try graduating from high school in the mid-seventies! LOL
We must have worked out at very different types of gyms. The weight rooms were full of women at all of the gyms I worked out at in the 80’s. I joined an all women’s gym in 1983 in Denver and when we moved back to VA in 1984, the weight room in my coed gym here was probably equally men/women. Other than my brief year at the YMCA in Utah, I always chose lifting weights over aerobics classes.
Love your last paragraph about 20 years ago! 🙂
Thanks this was a fun prompt to write about!